May 31, 2011

I've loved a good Saturday morning filled with pajamas, cereal and cartoons since I was little. I used to watch X-Men, Looney Tunes, Animaniacs, Doug ... But as I've gotten older, I feel like many cartoons are either too strange or too anime to suit my tastes. I guess I'm picky, and more than a little nostalgic.

Enter the Disney Channel's Phineas and Ferb, the story of two genius step-brothers, their harried sister, a secret agent platypus, a seriously inept "evil" villain and a slew of other family and friends. Colt and I often end up watch hours of this show on the weekends, even if we've seen the episodes before. (And let me tell you, they replay episodes pretty dang often.)

The show is honest, intelligent and funny. There are kids jokes and the occasional adult joke that kids watching won't understand until they're a lot older. There's unrequited young love, there are British accents, there are musical numbers. What else could you ask for in two 10-15 minute story-lines per episode?

Here are a couple of music videos from the show to get you interested.

Currently, Threadless is holding a Phineas and Ferb Design Challenge. There's a few pretty impressive submissions so far, many of them playing off of the Perry character. I wish I was creative enough to come up with one of my own.

May 25, 2011

The mister and I are currently on day 3 of a 7-day fruit/veg/lean protein detox, hoping to jump-start a summer of eating better, being less lazy and getting healthy. (Thanks, Ang, for sending me the info.) We're not looking to go crazy, but we both want to make changes that make us feel better, both physically and mentally.

While the detox hasn't been too bad so far, I haven't had caffeine, carbs, or soda since Sunday. And while that might not seem like a long period of time to go without, it's definitely taking it's toll—I'm a coffee in the morning, a Diet Coke or two a day, carb-loving kind of girl. But I will stick it out, and instead of running to the grocery store to ravage the bakery, post a few pictures of the things I wish I could be eating and drinking right now.

So sorry if I've made anyone hungry and/or fall off the wagon.

On a happier note, we did make a really delicious meal of baked salmon, steamed broccoli/cauliflower/carrots and navy beans last night. I actually enjoyed making it! I'm also looking forward to making Gazpacho tonight—it's one of my most favorite summertime soups.

Next week, we're starting a Biggest Loser-type contest with a couple of friends of ours who also want to feel better. Not sure what the wager will be in the "competition," but I'm sure it will be good incentive to keep eating right and getting off the couch.

May 24, 2011

If you've been around for a while, you'll already know that I am a big fan of nail polish and that I am a big fan of things that sparkle. And when I run across a good, super sparkly nail polish, I'm just in heaven.

Last week, Colt was in a friend's wedding, and I wanted to come up with a pretty manicure to go along with the pretty dress I'd found on sale at J.C. Penney for 50% off. (I am also a very big fan of a good sale.)

I pulled out my go to tarty bright red, Rescue Beauty Lounge's Chinoise and a new favorite, OPI's Spark de Triomphe and had a little fun with an attempted glitter gradient.

It turned out looking very Wonder Woman-esque, which was a happy accident.

I was changing polish this weekend and thought, what about doing the gradient from the base of the nail rather than the tip? Et voilà:

May 23, 2011

Bridesmaids is being hyped as "the female Hangover," and while I might not quite agree with the comparison, it's definitely just as funny of a movie.

I went to see the movie last week with a couple of friends/coworkers. It was a great antidote to the long (i.e. stressful) couple of weeks we'd been having.

My favorite part of the movie, on the whole, is that it felt real. These women made fun of themselves, they got themselves into awkward situations, they talked like my friends and I talk. Sure, there were parts that were overly ridiculous, but I connected with the women in the film so much more than I've ever connected with, say, the Sex and the City gals. (Not to say they're not entertaining in their own way). Similarly, no one in the film seemed unapproachably gorgeous. Rose Byrne and Jon Hamm played the "hot" characters, and while yes, they are quite attractive, I don't think I'd go into shock from passing them on the street (if they weren't famous, of course—I do have severe celebrity-induced anxiety).

I'm a bit jealous of Kristen Wiig's Annie Walker (side note—Anyone else watch Covert Affairs) knowing so many British people: Two bizarre English roomates and an adorably Irish love interest in Officer Rhodes.

May 20, 2011

Two big-ticket items on tap this weekend: the Renegade Craft Fair and The Rapture.

First up: handmade pretties.

The hubs, the moms and I went to the first annual Renegade Craft Fair last year and had a great time. Colt bought me this adorable Verameat necklace (which was more expensive than first thought, but I love it, so it's OK):

And Mom and I bought some prints from David Malki! of Wondermark, which is a great Web comic. (Definitely check it out, if you've never.)

It's a really fun craft fair, and it's definitely unique. We saw Elsie and Miss James; learned tricks for the Yudu (which I still need to use, I am terrible); and people watched—lots of hipsters. There are other Renegade fairs around the country, so if you're not in Austin this weekend, you should see if there's going to be any in your area in the future.

According to Wikipedia, this go-round of the rapture is being predicted by Harold Camping, a Christian radio host.

The 2011 end times prediction made by Harold Camping states that the Rapture (in premillennial theology, the taking up into heaven of God's elect people) will take place on May 21, 2011 at 6 p.m. local time (the rapture will sweep the globe time zone by time zone) and that the end of the world as we know it will take place five months later on Oct. 21, 2011. Camping, president of the Family Radio Christian network, claims the Bible as his source and says May 21 will be the date of the Rapture and the day of judgment "beyond the shadow of a doubt". His followers claim that around 200 million people (approximately 3 percent of the world's population) will be raptured.

Camping previously claimed that the world would end in September 1994.

It might be the fact that Camping "previously claimed that the world would end in September 1994," and now he's saying that "May 21 will be the date of the Rapture and the day of judgment 'beyond the shadow of a doubt,'" but I'm not so sure I believe him.

I've also been watching season 5 of Supernatural lately, which is all about the apocalypse. And that season took place in 2009-10, so ... Camping's a year off.

(I promise, I know Supernatural's not real.)

I read about this funny prank this morning and the childish side of me hopes to see this while I'm out and about.

May 19, 2011

There has been a lot of hubub this week, what with the major networks (and The CW) announcing their fall lineups. Here they are: ABC, CBS, NBC—dramas and comedies, FOX and The CW. I haven't had a chance to check out all of these shows, but it seems like quite a few have a supernatural spin. For example:

NBC's Grimm

ABC's Once Upon a Time

Last year I spent a whole week talking about new shows I was interested in, and you can bet Premiere Week will make another appearance come fall.